Remarks: United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seen disembarking from the ARRC's new Colorado Railcar built DMU. Madam Speaker (in the pink jacket) is shaking hands with the ARR's Director of Operating Practices and she is flanked by various US Capitol Police and assorted aides. Her entourage rode to and from Spencer Glacier with high ranking officials from the US Forest Service. They were wooing her for continued Federal Support of their "Whistle Stop" project which is opening up the spectacular but remote interior of the Chugach National Forest for tourism through the use of railroad access provided by this new car which was purchased in part with USFS funds.
Remarks: An ARR geep creeps carefully up the back streets of Anchorage en route to deliver three gondolas for scrap loading. She is shoving across Orca St. and past Alaska Mill and Feed which is a railroad customer and a hugely popular location for all the local horticulturalists to procure their gardening supplies. The streets are full of happy shoppers carting around plants for the summer.
Remarks: Yes, I know I post a lot of photos from this location. But can you blame me? I just find this to be one of the most fascinating piece of trackage anywhere. Side of the road running, light rail, industrial atmosphere, and stunning mountain backdrop -- where else does something akin to this exist any longer? Back in the day Salt Lake City had many a downtown spur that offered similar scenes, but no more. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy this summer time look...
Remarks: Looking down from the sidwalk of the C Street Bridge as an ARR yard job switches out cars at the warehouse. The building on the left houses the ARR's stores department and they still regularly ship and receive company material by rail. Track components (spikes, anchors, etc.) come up by barge in foreign line boxcars while various other company material is shuttled around the system on flats, gons, or in boxcars. Beyond the train can be seen the bustling port of Anchorage and then the blue waters of cook inlet. On the horizon is the 4396 ft peak of Mt. Susitna, known locally as the "Sleeping Lady" for the mountain's resemblance to a woman in repose on her back. To the right is the abandoned warehouse, which is one of the oldest structures in the Anchorage yard complex and whose fate is uncertain.
Remarks: A line of police vehicles both marked and undercover wait adjacent the ARRC's team track just outside the yard office. They are observing the new Colorado Railcar built DMU pull in account US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is on board having just ridden to and from Spencer Glacier in the company of high ranking US Forest Service officials. They were wooing her for continued Federal Support of their "Whistle Stop" project which is opening up the spectacular but remote interior of the Chugach National Forest for tourism through the use of railroad access provided by this new car which was purchased in part with USFS funds.
